After reading Chapter 7, you should know and understand:

• the privileges, protections and access guaranteed to journalists;
• how to avoid being jailed, sued, fired or verbally harassed if your writing or reporting crosses the line;
• the ins and outs of libel and slander, so you can avoid making careless errors that could lead to defamation lawsuits;
• the legal problems that can arise from violating a person's right to privacy;
• how copyright law protects you, and how it prevents you from illegally reprinting the works of others;
• where editors, administrators and readers draw the line when material becomes offensive;
• the ethical pitfalls that can lead to trouble or termination: deception, plagiarism, fabrication, theft, bias, burning sources, and conflict of interest; and
• the ethical standards for reporters' behavior.